MeshCentral is a powerful open-source remote management platform that allows you to manage devices, remote desktops, terminals, and files from a centralized web interface. Running it on AlmaLinux 9 provides a stable and secure server environment suitable for both personal and production deployments.

This guide walks you through the complete installation and configuration process for MeshCentral on AlmaLinux 9, including:

• Installing Node.js 20
• Installing MeshCentral
• Configuring MeshCentral
• Running MeshCentral as a systemd service

At the end of this tutorial, you will have a fully functional self-hosted MeshCentral server running persistently on AlmaLinux 9.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A fresh AlmaLinux 9 server
• Root or sudo access
• Internet connectivity
• Ports 80 and 443 open in your firewall if remote web access is required

Step 1: Connect to the Server

Linux / macOS

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Windows (PowerShell / Windows Terminal)

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Windows (PuTTY)

Use the following settings:

• Host Name: YOUR_SERVER_IP
• Port: 22
• Connection Type: SSH
• Username: root

Step 2: Update the System

Update all installed packages and apply the latest security patches.

dnf update -y

This command:

• Updates installed packages
• Applies security fixes
• Prepares the system for MeshCentral installation

Step 3: Install Required Dependencies

Install the required system packages.

dnf install -y curl ca-certificates gnupg

These packages are used for:

• Downloading installation scripts
• Verifying HTTPS connections
• Validating repository signatures

Step 4: Install Node.js 20

MeshCentral requires a modern Node.js runtime.

Add the official NodeSource repository:

curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -

Install Node.js:

dnf install -y nodejs

Verify the installation:

node -v
npm -v

You should see Node.js 20.x and a recent npm version.

Step 5: Install MeshCentral

Create the application directory:

mkdir -p /opt/meshcentral
cd /opt/meshcentral

Install MeshCentral using npm:

npm install meshcentral

Create the data directory:

mkdir -p /opt/meshcentral/meshcentral-data

This directory stores:

• Configuration files
• Runtime logs
• Database files
• Server data

Step 6: Configure MeshCentral

Create the configuration file:

vi /opt/meshcentral/meshcentral-data/config.json

Paste the following configuration:

{
  "settings": {
    "port": 443,
    "redirPort": 80,
    "selfUpdate": false
  },
  "domains": {
    "": {
      "title": "MeshCentral",
      "newAccounts": true
    }
  }
}

Configuration overview:

• port: HTTPS listening port
• redirPort: Redirects HTTP traffic
• selfUpdate: Disables automatic updates
• newAccounts: Allows administrator account creation

Step 7: Test MeshCentral Manually

Start MeshCentral manually to verify that it launches correctly.

node /opt/meshcentral/node_modules/meshcentral

If the server starts successfully, stop it using:

CTRL + C

Step 8: Create a systemd Service

Create the systemd service file:

nano /etc/systemd/system/meshcentral.service

Paste the following configuration:

[Unit]
Description=MeshCentral Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/bin/node /opt/meshcentral/node_modules/meshcentral
WorkingDirectory=/opt/meshcentral
Restart=always
RestartSec=10
Environment=NODE_ENV=production

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Reload systemd:

systemctl daemon-reload

Enable MeshCentral at boot:

systemctl enable meshcentral

Start the service:

systemctl start meshcentral

Check the service status:

systemctl status meshcentral

If everything is working correctly, the service should display as:

active (running)

Step 9: Configure Firewall

If FirewallD is enabled, allow SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS traffic.

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

Verify allowed services:

firewall-cmd --list-services

Expected output:

cockpit dhcpv6-client ssh http https

Step 10: Access MeshCentral

Open your browser and visit:

https://YOUR_SERVER_IP

You should now see the MeshCentral web interface.

Troubleshooting

Check MeshCentral Logs

journalctl -u meshcentral -f

Verify Listening Ports

ss -tulpn | grep -E '80|443'

Restart MeshCentral

systemctl restart meshcentral

Conclusion

You have successfully installed and configured MeshCentral on AlmaLinux 9.

Your setup now includes:

• A fully self-hosted remote management platform
• Persistent background service management with systemd
• A stable Node.js 20 runtime environment
• Centralized remote access and device management

This deployment provides a reliable and lightweight platform for remotely managing servers, workstations, and devices from a single web-based interface.